After playoffs, A’s will stay in Oakland

The A’s are headed for the playoffs – and from the looks of things, they’ll be staying in Oakland for the next few years as well.

The A’s and the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Authority, which runs their ballpark, are negotiating a five-year lease extension – with Major League Baseball offering to act as a negotiator to help get the deal done.

The pact could keep baseball in Oakland until at least 2018.

The lease was handed over to the team three weeks ago, and while details are still to be worked out, A’s managing partner Lew Wolff told us that he is “absolutely” interested in reaching an agreement.

“Even if we were building a new ballpark, it wouldn’t be ready until then anyway,” Wolff said.

According to insiders, one possible problem may be the $50 million penalty the Coliseum wants if the team leaves early for San Jose.

As for MLB’s continuing silence about the A’s hopes of a South Bay move?

“No comment,” Wolff said.

By the way, Wolff arrived a little late for Monday’s clincher and found his usual seats taken.

“I thought, ‘Who the hell are those people?’ ” Wolff said. Then he remembered that he’d given the seats to a local charity.

So Wolff wound up doing what he often does at games – wandering around, checking out the action on and off the field, and eventually winding up on the concourse, by himself.

“It was really exciting,” Wolff said. “The quality of the people we have running this is just amazing.”